Senate debate on omnibus tort bill focuses on liquor‑liability, server training and who bears risk

Columbia — The South Carolina Senate devoted the bulk of a floor session to S.244, an omnibus tort‑reform bill, as members argued for hours about provisions that would change dram‑shop (liquor‑liability) law, create an alcohol server training and mitigation program for bars and restaurants, and narrow who can sue a licensee after an intoxication‑related crash.

Supporters framed the package as targeted relief to help small bars and restaurants that say liquor‑liability insurance markets have become effectively noncompetitive. The sponsor of a strike‑and‑insert amendment modeled on language passed unanimously in the House said the measure would set up a mitigation program, require server training tied to premium discounts and let insurers offer reduced annual aggregate limits for insured operators that meet program requirements. “This does it — this gets premium relief for bars and restaurants,” said the senator from Georgetown, urging adoption of the amendment as a “backstop” taxpayers and businesses could point to if broader reform stalled.

Opponents and some members who supported relief warned the amendment could procedurally box the Senate into a narrow package and preclude later debate of other…